The Oregon Ducks had one of the most successful seasons in program history last year, going 13-1 with a Big Ten Championship win and a No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. Now, in 2025, they will look to reach the same heights once again, but this time around with almost an entirely new roster.
Since coming to Eugene, Dan Lanning has recruited at an elite level. In 2025, talent acquisition and development will be tested. Gone are the players from past regimes; in will be the blue-chip players whom Lanning and his staff have hand-picked.
On offense, players like Dillon Gabriel, Tez Johnson, Jordan James, Terrance Ferguson, and Josh Conerly are leaving for the NFL. The defense sees the likes of Jeffrey Bassa, Jordan Burch, Derek Harmon, and Jabbar Muhammad move on as well.
So, who will step up and replace them? That’s the million dollar question in Eugene. We have our depth chart projections on offense and defense, but the next several weeks of practice will determine a lot for the Ducks. As we continue our preview of the spring season leading up to Oregon’s annual spring game, let’s take a deep dive, position by position.
We’ve tackled the offense, with previews on Oregon’s quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, and O-line situations, and earlier this week we looked at the Ducks defensive line and edge rushers. Today, we’re diving into the Ducks’ inside linebackers
Oregon is bringing back a full load of talented linebackers in 2025, but they are also losing key contributors, most importantly Jeffrey Bassa. Bassa has, in many ways, been the heart and soul of the Oregon defense and team since 2023, and his leadership made so much intangible impact for the Ducks. The guys who will be filling Bassa and Jestin Jacobs — the Ducks’ other graduating ILB, are more than capable, but Bassa and Jacobs’ presence will be missed next fall.
Departing Players
Jeffrey Bassa
Oregon Career Stats: 55 games, 236 tackles, 14 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 3 INTs, 1 pick six, 2 forced fumbles
Analysis: When Tyler Shough’s errant pass magnetized its way into Jeffrey Bassa’s hands in September 2023, sealing the Ducks’ win in Lubbock. Bassa was immortalized in Oregon legend forever, but his impact on this program began long before that. As skilled as he is, Bassa’s eyes and voice are just as powerful, and for the last two seasons, he’s served as the nexus of the Ducks defense.
Jestin Jacobs
Oregon Career Stats: 21 games, 61 tackles, 5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT
Analysis: Jestin Jacobs spent just two years at Oregon, and injuries made those two seasons even shorter, but in the time he was able to play, Jacobs was a key player for the Ducks. In 2023, Jacobs’ midseason debut gave Oregon much needed solidty in the middle of the field, and in 2024, Jacobs size helped the Ducks craft one of the toughest defenses in conference lauded for its physicality.
Returning Players
Bryce Boettcher
Oregon Career Stats: 40 games, 133 tackles, 11 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
Analysis: The most exciting news in the linebacker room this offseason is that Bryce Boettcher will be back for the Ducks in 2025. Boettcher, who has come a long way from his days as a walk-on linebacker coming from the Oregon baseball team, was granted an eligibility waiver by the NCAA since he’s only played three seasons of football (he’s out of baseball eligibility). Last season, Boettcher blossomed into one of the best all-around linebackers and athletes in college football, and don’t expect his improvement to fall off next season, because I don’t think we’ve glimpsed his ceiling yet.
Devon Jackson
Oregon Career Stats: 31 games, 65 tackles, 5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Analysis: Boettcher was the Ducks’ best linebacker last year, but the most improved was certainly Devon Jackson. In his third season last fall, the game seemed to slow down for Jackson, which let him use his incomprehensible speed and strength to his massive advantage, becoming a top linebacker in the blink of an eye. With a full year of first-team reps under his belt, expect Jackson to be even better in 2025.
Jerry Mixon
Oregon Career Stats: 19 games, 8 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack
Analysis: Besides Boettcher and Jackson, Jerry Mixon is the most experienced inside linebacker on Oregon’s defense, and although he hasn’t played much in his two college years, expect to see much more of him next fall. Like Jackson, Mixon is incredibly athletic, and he’s honed his football skills to become a solid all-around backer.
Dylan Williams
Oregon Career Stats: N/A
Analysis: Now we’re getting into the developmental side of the Ducks’ ILB room, but Dylan Williams, and the guys who follow him on this list, could already be Power 5 starters elsewhere. Williams was a freshman last fall, after coming to the Ducks as one of many 4-star linebacker commits in the class of 2024. Williams preserved his redshirt last year, so expect him to see some action this year, but the starting lineup is unlikely.
Kamar Mothudi
Oregon Career Stats: N/A
Analysis: After redshirting as a freshman in 2024, Kamar Mothudi is returning to Oregon after coming to the Ducks as a 4-star recruit a year ago. If that analysis sounds familiar, it’s because Mothudi and Williams are in a very similar spot in their careers: talented but not quite out of the developmental stage yet.
Brayden Platt
Oregon Career Stats:
Analysis: I might as well just copy and paste the last two paragraphs, because Brayden Platt is in the same spot as Mothudi and Williams: 4-star, class of 2024, and very talented. This likely won’t be his year to shine either, but all three of these guys will be difference makers for Oregon down the road.
Incoming Players
Gavin Nix (Recruit)
247Sports Recruiting Profile: 4-star, No. 20 LB, No. 226 overall
Analysis: The Oregon Ducks’ sole linebacker addition is Gavin Nix, a 4-star 2025 recruit from IMG Academy, who at 6 feet, 225 pounds, could make an impact for the Ducks’ defense as early as next year. He won’t be starting, but Nix is good enough already to see some game time, affording us a preview of what lies down the road for Oregon’s defense.
Projected Starters
Predicted Starters
Strongside ILB (Mac): Bryce Boettcher
Weakside ILB (Money): Devon Jackson
Boettcher’s experience, tenacity, and ability to read defenses makes him one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten. With Bassa, gone, so much of the defense’s leadership will fall on Boettcher — a role he seems built for. Regarding Jackson, so much has been said about his athletic ability — which is never not stunning — but he, like Boettcher, possesses elite game sense and will be a leader from the middle as well.
Overall Position Outlook
The Ducks’ linebackers are in a great spot. In 2025, they’ll have one of the best ILB duos in college football and capable backups. Against the run and the pass, Boettcher and Jackson will make it difficult for opposing offenses to do anything, and beyond 2025, the Ducks couldn’t be set up better. With a trio of 4-star redshirt freshman, and a fourth 4-star on the way, Oregon shouldn’t have trouble in the middle of the defense for some time.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks 2025 spring football inside linebackers preview
